Bob Knuth

Robert Alan 'Bob' Knuth (born May 15, 1967) is an American scenic designer and art director based in the Chicago, Illinois area. Knuth is currently the Creative Director of Marketing & Brand for The Second City Inc (Chicago, Hollywood, Toronto) and UP Comedy Club in Chicago. Knuth began his tenure as Art Director for The Second City in 2005. Knuth has been nominated for 15 Joseph Jefferson Awards and is a two (2) time award winner.[1][2]

Bob Knuth

In 2004, Chris Jones, Chief Theater Critic for The Chicago Tribune wrote about Knuth's body of work in Chicago storefront theaters, "Perhaps more than any other set designer working in the Chicago area, Knuth has solved the aesthetic problems inherent in the prosaic, end-on storefront where audience members sit in narrow rows and stare over the backs of heads at a rectangular stage without much depth or height. Normally, that's as constraining as trying to build a postmodern dwelling on a single Chicago lot. But as Knuth proves again in his very bold, striking and endlessly inventive production of "Jane Eyre" (the talented fellow directs as well as designs), it does not have to be that way."[3]

Biography

After attending undergraduate school at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire (1985-1990) and completing two years of graduate studies in Design for the Theatre at Northwestern University (1990-1992), Knuth began his career as the Managing Artistic Director for CenterLight Sign and Voice Theatre in Northbrook, Illinois, in 1993.[4][5]

Knuth was the Senior Graphic Designer at The Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1998-2005.

Besides working as a freelance scenic and graphic designer, Knuth was Producing Director and resident Scenic/Graphic Designer for Circle Theatre Chicago in Forest Park from 2001-2013 before stepping down to pursue freelance work and focus on his career at The Second City.[6][7]

During his tenure as Producing Director, Circle Theatre had hosted visits from many notable entertainment luminaries (Rupert Holmes, Michael John LaChiusa, Marvin Hamlisch, Russell Crowe), mounted World and Chicago Premieres and built a thriving subscriber base.[8][9]

Other scenic design credits include Mercury Theatre Chicago's productions of The Addams Family (2015 JEFF Award for Outstanding Musical Production) and The Color Purple. The Second City's mainstage productions of Let Them Eat Chaos, Depraved New World Panic on Cloud 9 and for The Second City's E.T.C. 39th Revue. Fox Valley Rep's (formally Noble Fool Theatre at Pheasant Run Resort) Let's Misbehave, Breaking Up is Hard To Do, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Other awards

In 2003, Knuth was also nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for The Secret Garden. "The Secret Garden" was nominated for a total 10 Jeff Awards that season and won for Outstanding Production - Musical, and three additional awards including Actress In A Supporting Role (Sarah Swanson), Choreography (Kevin Bellie), Costumes (Jeffrey Kelly).[10]

In 2015 and 2017, Knuth received In-House Design Merit Awards from HOW Design Magazine for poster designs promoting the 103rd and 104th mainstage revues at The Second City.

Personal life

Knuth currently lives in Forest Park with his partner Kevin Bellie and their two cats, Clara and Howard.[11]

References
  1. Jones, Chris (June 8, 2004). "Bailiwick wins 11 Jeff Awards". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. Jones, Chris (June 9, 2009). "'Our Town,' Theo Ubique's 'Evita' win". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  3. Jones, Chris (November 17, 2004). "Circle's inventive 'Jane Eyre' offers music and much moor". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. Murphy, H. Lee (December 5, 1997). "24 Years After Marlee Matlin's Debut, Centerlight Returns To 'Wizard Of Oz'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  5. "Alumni News". University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  6. "Chicago's Favorites: Circle Theatre in Forest Park". ABC Channel 7. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  7. Jack, Helbig (April 25, 2008). "Director drawn to uplifting shows". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  8. Riekki, Ron (May 30, 2006). "'Broadway legend' visits Circle Theatre for Q&A". Forest Park Review. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  9. Metz, Nina (August 15, 2003). "Circle Theatre's connection to Crowe is one for the books". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  10. Cashman, David (June 11, 2003). "Jeff Awards at the Park West". Backstage Magazine. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  11. Lotus, Jean (August 20, 2013). "Gay and growing in Forest Park". Forest Park Review. Forest Park Review. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
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